Want Your Engine To Last Forever(ish)? - It Will If You Do This...

Summary

This video provides key tips on how to prolong the lifespan of your car's engine through proper maintenance. It emphasizes regular oil changes, using the correct grade and formulation of oil, and developing mechanical sympathy, such as avoiding high RPMs on cold engines. The video also touches on the importance of observing manufacturer-recommended service intervals and identifying potential engine issues early. By following these practices, you can extend the reliability and life of your car's engine and avoid costly repairs.

Takeaways

• 🛠️ Regular maintenance, especially oil changes, is key to extending the life of your car’s engine.
• 🛢️ Use the correct grade and type of oil with the proper additive package to avoid engine damage and wear.
• 📅 Service intervals vary by manufacturer, but it’s often beneficial to change the oil more frequently than recommended, especially for short trips.
• 🚗 Avoid cold starts by warming up the engine gradually, and avoid hard acceleration when the engine is cold to reduce wear.
• 💡 Mechanical sympathy, such as choosing the right gear and avoiding low RPM under load, can prevent engine strain and damage.
• 🔥 Cooling down the engine after high-speed driving helps reduce stress from sudden temperature changes.
• 🔧 Keeping an eye on unusual sounds, smells, or fluid leaks helps catch problems early, before they escalate.
• 📊 Regularly use diagnostic tools like OBD2 to monitor and identify engine issues before they become major problems.
• 🔄 Varying the RPM range during driving is healthier for the engine than consistently running at low or high RPMs.
• 🚨 Manufacturers design engines to tolerate some driver abuse, but good driving habits can significantly extend engine life.

Q & A

What is the main reason people sell or trade their cars for newer models?

The main reason people sell or trade their cars is due to the vehicle becoming unreliable, starting to break down, or accumulating high repair costs.

What is the key factor in prolonging the lifespan and reliability of a car engine?

The key factor in prolonging the lifespan and reliability of a car engine is regular maintenance, especially frequent oil changes, and using the correct oil with the proper additive package.

Why is it important to use the correct grade of oil for your car?

Using the correct grade of oil is important because modern engines are designed to work with specific formulations, and using the wrong oil can cause problems with components like the catalytic converter, particulate filter, and the general wear protection of the engine.

What are the two types of car services typically specified by manufacturers?

Manufacturers typically specify two types of services: an oil service, which involves a basic oil change, and an inspection service, which is more thorough and includes checking filters and inspecting engine components.

Why is changing the oil frequently recommended even if the manufacturer's schedule suggests longer intervals?

Changing the oil frequently is recommended because oil can degrade faster in certain driving conditions, such as short trips, leading to the buildup of wear metals in the engine. More frequent changes help reduce engine wear and prolong its life.

What should a driver do to prevent engine damage during cold starts?

During cold starts, drivers should avoid putting stress on the engine by driving too hard before the engine has warmed up, as cold engines have metal components that haven’t reached optimal clearances, leading to risks like poor lubrication and piston slap.

What is the benefit of allowing the engine to cool down after driving on a fast road?

Allowing the engine to cool down gradually after driving on a fast road helps avoid sudden temperature changes, which can cause stress on engine components. Reducing speed and using a higher gear towards the end of the journey can help with this.

How can driving sympathetically help extend the life of an engine?

Driving sympathetically helps extend the life of an engine by avoiding unnecessary strain, such as lugging the engine at low RPMs or consistently driving at high RPMs. Varying the rev range and using the correct gear for the driving situation helps keep the engine healthy.

Why is it important to pay attention to unusual noises, smells, or fluids coming from the car?

Paying attention to unusual noises, smells, or fluids is important because they can indicate potential problems with the engine or other components. Addressing issues early can prevent them from escalating into larger, more expensive repairs.

What should drivers do if they experience power surges, flat spots, or other performance issues?

If drivers experience power surges, flat spots, or other performance issues, they should use a diagnostic tool to check the error codes from the car's OBD2 port. Identifying and fixing issues early helps maintain engine reliability and performance.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 How to Extend Your Car's Engine Life

The first paragraph addresses the unrealistic expectation of making a car engine last forever. However, many people strive to keep their car for as long as possible, with the main reason for selling usually being unreliability or high repair costs. The video focuses on methods car owners can use to extend the engine's lifespan. It emphasizes the importance of maintenance, specifically oil changes, and discusses how different cars have varied service intervals (6 to 24 months). Choosing the correct oil grade and additive package is crucial to avoid damage to modern engines. Various components, such as the catalyst and particulate filter, can suffer if the wrong oil is used. Additionally, each car's other fluids, like coolant and brake fluid, must also meet manufacturer specifications to prevent issues. The recommendation is to change oil more frequently than manufacturers suggest, especially if the car is used for short trips, which can lead to oil contamination and increased engine wear.

05:02

🛠️ Mechanical Sympathy and Driving Habits

The second paragraph focuses on the concept of 'mechanical sympathy'—driving habits that help prolong the life of the engine. It discusses how cold starts can cause engine wear if the car is driven too hard before reaching optimal temperatures. Proper warm-up routines are essential, and the driver should allow the engine to cool down after long or high-speed trips to avoid thermal stress. It also advises drivers of manual cars to use the correct gear to prevent engine strain, avoid low RPMs that could damage the engine, and avoid excessive high-RPM driving. The importance of monitoring for early warning signs, such as unusual noises, smells, or power surges, is also highlighted. Early detection and prompt action can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems, ensuring engine reliability. Finally, the video encourages viewers to check for error codes using diagnostic tools for deeper insights into potential engine problems.

Keywords

💡Engine longevity

Engine longevity refers to the goal of maximizing the lifespan of a car's engine. In the video, the speaker discusses how car owners often want their engines to last as long as possible, avoiding costly repairs or the need to replace the car. Key factors to engine longevity include proper maintenance, oil changes, and driving habits.

💡Oil changes

Oil changes are a crucial part of maintaining engine health. The video emphasizes that regularly changing oil, and using the correct type with the right additives, helps prevent engine wear and prolongs its life. Contaminated or degraded oil leads to faster engine wear, making oil changes vital to engine longevity.

💡Mechanical sympathy

Mechanical sympathy is the practice of driving in a way that reduces stress and wear on the engine. The video discusses how being mindful of factors like cold starts and proper gear usage can extend engine life by reducing unnecessary strain. This includes allowing the engine to warm up and cool down properly.

💡Service intervals

Service intervals are the manufacturer-recommended times for regular maintenance on a car, such as oil changes and inspections. The video explains that these intervals can vary between 6 to 24 months depending on the car, but suggests that more frequent servicing may be beneficial to keep the engine in optimal condition.

💡Oil degradation

Oil degradation refers to the process of oil breaking down over time, becoming contaminated with metal particles and losing its ability to lubricate the engine effectively. In the video, the speaker notes that oil degradation is accelerated by short trips and harsh driving conditions, making it important to change oil more frequently than the manufacturer recommends in some cases.

💡Cold starts

Cold starts occur when an engine is started after being idle for a long period, particularly in cold weather. The video explains that driving hard on a cold engine can cause significant wear due to the metal components not having reached optimal temperature and lubrication, highlighting the importance of warming up the engine gradually.

💡Wear metals

Wear metals are tiny particles of metal that accumulate in engine oil as the engine components wear down. The video mentions that the presence of wear metals in the oil is a sign of engine wear, and that changing the oil frequently can help minimize damage caused by these particles.

💡Driving habits

Driving habits, such as proper gear usage, avoiding high RPMs, and not overloading the engine, are critical to maintaining engine health. The video advises varying the engine's RPM range and avoiding prolonged high-stress driving to reduce wear and tear, contributing to the longevity of the engine.

💡Diagnostic tool

A diagnostic tool is a device used to read error codes from a car's onboard computer. The video suggests using a diagnostic tool to check for potential engine problems early on, which can prevent more serious issues and costly repairs later. This proactive approach helps maintain engine reliability.

💡Manufacturer-specific formulations

Manufacturer-specific formulations refer to the specialized oils and fluids recommended by car manufacturers for their engines. The video explains that using the correct oil and fluids, designed for a specific engine type, is essential for preventing damage to components like the catalytic converter and particulate filter, thereby preserving engine life.

Highlights

Realistic to expect that a car's engine won't last forever, but many people aim to keep their car for as long as possible.

The main motivation for selling a car is often its unreliability, frequent breakdowns, or increasing repair costs.

Regular maintenance, especially oil changes, is essential for prolonging a car's lifespan.

Servicing intervals vary by manufacturer, ranging from 6 months to up to 24 months, and include oil changes and more thorough inspections.

Using the correct grade of oil with the right additive package is crucial, as using the wrong oil can cause serious engine problems.

Manufacturers design oils very specifically for their engines to protect components like the catalyst, particulate filter, and engine materials.

Cheap oils or incorrect fluids can accelerate the deterioration of engine components and lead to costly repairs.

Many people find manufacturers' oil change intervals overly optimistic, especially for short journeys or heavy engine use.

Oil contamination, often shown through the presence of wear metals, can indicate engine wear and the need for more frequent oil changes.

Shortening oil change intervals to half of the manufacturer's recommendation can prevent potential engine issues.

Drivers should practice mechanical sympathy by warming up and cooling down the engine properly to reduce stress and wear.

Cold engines are vulnerable to issues like blow-by and piston slap, so it's important to avoid heavy use when the engine hasn't warmed up.

High RPM or lugging the engine at low RPM can strain the engine, so using the appropriate gear for the load is essential.

Drivers should stay aware of potential problems such as unusual noises or smells, and address them early to avoid bigger issues.

Using diagnostic tools to identify and fix engine issues early can help maintain the engine's reliability and avoid breakdowns.

Transcripts

so do you want your car's engine to last forever  well it's realistic to expect that your engine is  

not going to last forever but to a lot of people  they want to hang on to their car as long as they  

possibly can and the only real motivation to  selling the car and trading up to a newer model  

is because it's become unreliable it's started to  break down or it's started to run up repair bills  

and costs so in this video we're just going  to look at some of the things that you can  

do as a car owner to prolong the lifespan and the  reliability of your cars so we're going to look at  

few areas of keeping your car as an everlasting  car or an eternal engine and it really involves  

maintenance particularly oil changes there's  a few things that we need to look out when it  

comes to maintaining our car we're also going to  look at Cold starts and other things that you as  

a driver can do just to develop your mechanical  sympathy to ensure that your engine lasts a lot

longer so first up we have servicing now every  manufacturer specifies a service interval on the  

car so in some cases that may be 6 months it may  be 9 months it might be 12 it could even be 24  

months we see a lot of Manufacturers recommending  a long life service schedule within the service  

regime there's often inspection services and oil  services so the oil service is literally just a  

change of oil and a quick once over the inspection  service is a little more involved and involves  

changing the other filters in the engine and  inspecting more components to make sure everything  

is running smoothly and it's not just a matter of  servicing the car and changing the oil you need  

to be using the correct grade of oil but also an  oil that has the correct additive package if you  

get that wrong in some of these modern engines  you can cause all sorts of problems so I've got  

lots of videos that go more in depth into oil the  additives and the types of oil that you should  

be using there's oils for high mileage engines  there's turbocharged formulations so most of the  

manufacturers Volkswagen Ford Nissan Honda they  all have their own specific formulations and going  

outside of those will often have Knock On effects  on other components so typically your catalyst  

your particulate filter the general protection  inside the engine the wear and tear the corrosion  

resistance would all be affected so manufacturers  have selected oils very very specifically  

depending on how the engine has been constructed  the materials that have been used and the way the  

engine works so it'd be foolish to just go out and  buy a cheap oil thinking that that will keep the  

car in good condition and all the other fluids  that we put in the car the coolant even the brake  

fluid everything the car uses needs to be correct  for this specific car that you have otherwise you  

are going to potentially run up repair bills due  to accelerated deterioration of these components  

now most people that have had oil analysis done  have concluded that the manufacturers oil change  

statistics or recommendations are very very  optimistic in most cases where you're doing  

short Journeys you're abusing the engine you're  just using the car the oil has become contaminated  

it started to pick up a lot of wear Metals which  is an indicator of wear going on inside the engine  

so the recommendation then really is to change  the oil more frequently so it's very hard for  

someone like me to just say you should change  your oil every 3,000 miles because there's so  

many different engines out there and we all use  our cars completely differently so depending on  

the use of your car will have a bearing on how  quickly the oil you have in there degrades whether  

the engine design itself lends itself to the  problem of oil dilution we've done a video on that  

problem recently and there's lots of other things  to take into account so sending your oil off for  

analysis really is the best way of telling but  most people don't want to do that we just want an  

indicator or a suggestion to keep our car reliable  so in most cases we would half the manufacturer's  

recommendations that would be perceived as  cautious by most people people it's unlikely  

to see problems developing in the engine oil if  you've half the manufacturer's service schedules  

so if the saying 12 months 12,000 mil you shorten  that to 6 months 6,000 miles so I think now for  

most of us we want to be somewhere between the two  so we want to be between 6,000 and 12,000 if the  

manufacturer specifies at 12,000 miles the key  really to Long engine life is changing the oil  

if that oil has started to degrade if it's built  up wear metals from the engine itself is going  

to lead to faster degradation of your engine and  greater wear and tear over time so the next thing  

that we should be doing as a driver is having a  little bit of mechanical sympathy with our engine  

so when the engine is cold if we use it too hard  it's going to cause problems in the lifespan of  

the car the metal components inside the ductility  the elasticity the Pistons the clearances inside  

haven't reached what the manufacturer said so  we're gonna have problems with blow by poor  

lubrication piston slap is also a risk on cold  engines and an engine when it's cold if you put  

a lot of stress into it is going to accelerate the  wear and tear on the engine so observing a proper  

warm-up routine I'm not going to go into too much  detail here as to what a proper warm-up routine is  

because I've done other videos on it so if that's  something that you're curious about check out  

those other videos they're based on a vast pool of  knowledge that I've tapped into people have spoken  

to my own experiences in the trade and and using  cars myself over the years so as well as that  

little warm up cycle we should allow the engine  to cool down so in most cases it's good to just  

allow the engine to cool down a little bit toward  the end of our journey so if we were on a highway  

freeway Motorway autobhan whatever we want to call  these fast roads we may just want to get the speed  

down to use a higher gear for the last part of  the journey to just give the engine a chance  

to properly cool down and that avoids the big  temperature the big fast temperature differentials  

that happen when a very hot engine is suddenly  shut off so modern engine designs have come on a  

long way the manufacturers have taken into account  the abuse that the typical driver gives them but  

we can do a little bit to extend the engine life  of our precious motor so another thing we should  

do is drive sympathetically if we using a manual  in the UK there's still about 70% of cars on the  

road at the moment that have a manual transmission  use the right gear we want to avoid lugging the  

engine putting a big load on the engine at  very very low RPM figures we also want to  

avoid excessive stress in the engine so we want to  avoid high RPM driving all the time the key really  

is to just vary it vary the Rev range that you  use as you drive the car and just make sure the  

engine is used as the manufacture intended don't  fall into the Trap of thinking that low RPM equals  

better fuel economy because most cars have a point  in the RPM range which gives you the best fuel  

economy and that's generally not at the lowest  point you need to choose an appropriate gear and  

appropriate gear takes into account the load if  you're going uphill if you're towing if you're  

trying to accelerate you'll need a different gear  to if you were on the flat just maintaining a  

steady constant speed so the last thing we want to  do is just be conscious of potential problems as  

they develop the earlier we can get to a problem  the less chance it has to escalate into a big  

problem so check out noises smells fluids coming  from the engine underneath the car anything out of  

the ordinary can indicate you've got a potential  problem so you want to jump on that quite quickly  

if you've noticed unusual power surges or blips  or you're getting intermittent running flat spots  

when you accelerate it's time to pull out the  diagnostic tool plug it into your OBD2 port read  

off the error codes and just see what is going on  in inside the engine and spotting these problems  

early on really does ensure that your engine  is reliable it's less likely to let you down  

if you've identified a weak spot and replaced it  before that part has actually failed on you so  

if you found this video useful please boot that  like button that really does help us to get out  

there if you've not subscribed to the channel  yet please do so hate you to miss out on all  

the great content we've got coming up to help you  to get the best out of your car and maintain its  

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if you want to get the best out of your car  thanks for watching see you in this next video